French Toast Bread Pudding and a Giveaway

I’m a BIG fan of French toast. It’s just so comforting and delicious. Imagine taking the flavors of French toast and putting them into another comfort food – bread pudding. That’s what this recipe does.

I had the opportunity to go to an event a Panera a couple weeks ago. I got to taste their new steak sandwich and salad. Both were really good. I also had the opportunity to meeet some great people who work at Panera and Childrens Hospital Boston. You might be wondering how the two are related. Well, right now, select Boston area Panera cafes are donating a percentage of the proceeds from the Easter egg cookie sales to Children’s Hospital Boston.

After spending the evening with the folks at Panera, I decided I wanted to try one of their recipes found on myPanera.com. I grabbed a couple French toast bagels to make this bread pudding.

The lovely people at Panera have offered a giveaway so you can head into Panera and get your favorite lunch or try the new steak sandwich. To win the $15 gift certificate, just leave a comment before 12 noon (EST) on Wednesday April 6th letting me know what your go-to Panera order is. I always get the Pick-2 with the Turkey Bravo sandwich and the Ceasar salad. It always hits the spot.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 2-quart baking dish or eight 6- to 8-ounce ramekins with cooking spray and set the dish or ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Put bagel pieces in baking dish or ramekins in an even layer. If using raisins, scatter on top.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until blended. Whisk in milk, half-and-half, and orange zest.

Pour egg mixture over bagel pieces, then press down with a spatula until completely coated. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, pressing down now and then to saturate bagel pieces.

Put baking sheet with the baking dish or ramekins in the oven, then pour very hot tap water into the baking sheet to about 1/4 inch up the sides of the baking dish or ramekins.

Bake until pudding is just set in the center, 60 to 75 minutes for the baking dish or 35 to 45 minutes for ramekins. Remove and let cool until warm to the touch.

I’ve made cinnamon swirl bread pudding and imagine it tastes similarly amazing! I love getting the soup and sandwich combo at Panera, usually a broccoli cheddar soup if available and a turkey sandwich of some sort.

our office loves panera bc theyre the most efficient place to grab lunch for everyone from. i typically go for the cobb, its a delish salad that is low in sugar and carbs. my boss never goes for the pick 2 bc hes too hungry for half of each. he wants the full version of anything. usually a soup, sandwich, and pb & j. (did i mention hes a hungry guy by the time lunch rolls around?) if its early still, he’ll go for any of the souflees. another employee always orders on the wild rice soup days, sans bread bowl bc we’re trying to be carb conscious as a group… although i think there are a few cheats during the off hours!

The french toast bread pudding looks great! Maybe a bit sweet for breakfast, though, I think it would be great on a brunch buffet with something savory to balance it out.I am a big fan of the “pick two” as well, opting for some combination of bacon turkey bravo, sierra turkey, veggie wrap, greek salad, and broccoli cheddar soup.

My go to is their Jalapeño & Cheddar Bagel Breakfast Sandwich. Made with all natural egg, a thick slice of Vermont white cheddar and smoked, lean ham all grilled on their Jalapeño & Cheddar bagel. It is soooo amazingly great tasting! Paired with a cup of their coffee it is my ideal power breakfast!

Ohhh I love Panera! I usually go with a You Pick 2 with Baked Potato Soup or Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup + the Bacon Turkey Bravo or Turkey Artichoke Panini. Their Everything Bagel Sandwiches are great for breakfast though. Yummm.

This is especially tempting because there is a new Panera opening in Porter Square! I am always on the search for the best breakfast sandwiches that I can find, so the last time I was there I had a bacon, egg, and cheese on an Everything bagel. And sometimes one of their muffin tops makes it into my hands somehow…

My favorite is the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich and the Garden Vegetable Soup with Pesto, yum..Of course, followed with either a strawberry and cream scone or a wonderful fudgy brownie. My daughter and I share. Her birthday is in one week and Panera is her favorite place for lunch. Hope I win.

Love this giveaway! I always get soup – I prefer the vegetable – and a baguette. I also get Charlie a grilled cheese, and I usually end up eating the crusts. I used to really love their chicken salad, but the new recipe they’re using just isn’t the same.

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I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. (more)

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